From the day it launched five years ago, the Precedent A-List has been a go-to source for partner announcements, associate hires and job listings in the legal world.

And it still is. But it also just got way better.

“Following a six-month re-design process, our legal networking website has a fresh look, making it easier to read and navigate,” says Melissa Kluger, the publisher and editor of Precedent magazine. “And, with a new emphasis on eye-catching photography, the A-List is now more fun to browse.”

Also, given that more lawyers are reading on tablets and phones, Kluger says “the new site is designed to look great no matter what device you use.”

The made-over A-List will, of course, continue to serve up news candy for Canadian lawyers. Readers can, for example, peruse the hottest job openings at firms and in-house departments. (More than ever, in fact: since re-launching, the number of job postings on the A-List has soared by 30 percent.) And lawyers can turn to the website to find out when a firm announces a slate of new partners — or lures one from a competitor.

“But it’s important to remember that reading up on your colleagues is more than just fun,” Kluger is quick to point out. “Keeping up with the latest industry news should also be part of every lawyer’s networking and business development strategy.”

In fact, she says, reading the A-List can help lawyers find new business.

“If you see that an old law-school friend just made partner, drop them a note to congratulate them,” says Kluger. “Then, you can set up a coffee or lunch to re-connect — and that could lead to referrals down the line.”

Those sorts of well-informed gestures, she notes, can make a big difference over the course of long career.

Since the re-vamp of the A-List, several prominent firms have already posted news. Blakes announced 15 new partners and Torys has announced four new partners and four counsel. In the same period, Torkin Manes, Lerners and Howie, Sacks & Henry have used the site to trumpet new lateral hires.

And in the jobs section, the A-List has featured opportunities in business law at Miller Thomson and in litigation at WeirFoulds — plus a posting for the next general counsel at General Motors.